Juicing for Peak Male Performance

You're a guy with a juicer and need to know what fruits and vegetables benefit men. Specifically, what should you put in your juicer to enhance male peak performance? Concerns to address for men, particularly older men, involve enhancing blood flow, removing excess estrogen from your body and protecting your prostate. Here's some suggestions for each of these matters.

Blood Flow

The key to improving blood flow is having sufficient nitric oxide in your system. Nitric oxide causes your blood vessels to expand or dilate. Dilated blood vessels enhance athletic and workout performance, as well as limit the occurrence of erectile dysfunction. Nature offers ways to enhance your body's production of nitric oxide. Juicing prior to a workout can provide energy and make the workout feel easier due to better blood flow.

Beets

Beets contain a high concentration of nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide.

[2] Instead of taking L-arginine supplements, which are thought to increase production of nitric oxide, some endurance athletes drink beet juice prior to competitions. Don't panic if you drink beet juice and your urine and stool are red, these are common side effects from the red coloring of the beets.

Watermelon

In addition to having great taste, watermelon contains citrulline, a precursor to arginine and nitric oxide.[3] Watermelon is also known as a good source of potassium, which is important to regulate proper blood pressure. Because juicing the seeds does not work well, you should try to juice only seedless watermelons.

Reducing Estrogen Side Effects

One negative side effect of modern lifestyles and diet is increased estrogen in our bodies. While a limited amount is necessary, too much estrogen can lead to an enlarged prostate and some cancers. Bisphenol A is found in the lining of many juice containers and food cans. Men working in the production of plastics can develop breasts after prolonged inhalation of this substance. While we don't come in contact with this concentration of Bisphenol A on a regular basis, the result of excess contact is illustrative of what can happen from our frequent use of food and drink products which are packaged.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, contain a substance which is

converted to diindolylmethane. DIM, as it is more commonly known, is thought to limit the bad side effects of estrogen and help balance testosterone and estrogen in our systems.[4]

Prostate Relief

Related to environmental estrogen, many older men suffer from enlarged prostates. This condition is known as benign prostate hyperplasia or BPH. A typical symptom is frequent urination. A Journal of Nutrition article in 2008 cites a German study supporting the proposition that a substance called lycopene assists with reducing BPH symptoms.[1]

Tomatoes and Watermelon

Lycopene can be found in tomatoes and watermelon. Interestingly, unlike most other vegetables eaten raw, lycopene is absorbed by our bodies more readily when consumed with cooked tomatoes. Nevertheless, juicing tomatoes does provide some lycopene. Watermelon is also a good source of lycopene.

Men and women both benefit from regular juicing. Men can enhance their efforts to achieve peak performance through this healthful activity by improving blood flow, reducing estrogen side effects and protecting their prostates.